Futuristic Friendships

Hey ho, let's go! Finally DONE with battling against the evil flu and I'm ready to feel alive again! Haha. Forgive my hyperactive outburst, I just had a tall glass of Okinawa milk tea from Happy Leaf. Anyhoo, despite having chills from time to time I've been exhausting my social networks the past days meeting up with old friends! (Ako na ang may sakit na social butterfly) It's been such a blast!

Dates and Good Mates

Most of my close circles aren't here in the Metro. My childhood friends (my gings) are mostly based in CDO and my college girls are living in different parts of Visayas and Mindanao. Some even went global and invaded Bejing and Canada! Though I have lots of good friends here in Manila--especially my GBBFs (gay best best friends) it's been quite a challenge for us to meet up with our erratic schedules and dynamic careers however we do our best to get by. I spent most of my college days in the U.P. and Katipunan areas where most of my friends still stay. Living away from QC (the cradle of LEGENDARY memories) makes me miss having happiness right at my doorstep. That's why whenever I can, I take trips to Maginhawa (and spend an entire day at Moonleaf Tea Shop to say hello to my besties (then hope for some serendipitous moments with the other gheys) to amplify the good vibes. 

Last week I was a really lucky kid to have a good friend visit from CDO. Claire was here for a week with her parents and girl bonding over good food was hard to resist--especially for someone who feelt sick to the bones! We had a dinner with our childhood friend Sen at my favorite place in Powerplant-- Cafe Mediterranean. It was a night of never-ending teasing and updating! We talked about Claire's string of admirers and the upcoming wedding that we're planning!

Food with friends is always a treat! I really felt like I was transported back home-- pigging out on latest gossip and sumptuous fare. One thing great about having friends who are down-to-earth is that wherever you are-- may you be at Mc Donald's, eating kwek-kwek on a sidewalk, or eating spinach pizza at a fancyschmancy place; the conversations are always amazing. That's what I love about my friends, they're not really picky about places to hang out. Heck, they even welcome getting stuck in the strangest places just for the fun of it!

Whenever friends come and visit, I always have intense separation anxiety afterwards. It brings me back to my college years when my mum would visit me once a month and we'd have the most amazing week! I would endure commuting to the farthest ends of Manila just to spend a few hours with her! I learned numerous bus and jeepney routes in my desire to feel a semblance of home. When someone from home is here, I pull out all the stops just to see him/her. A few moments of normalcy and comfort take months of homesickness away. I seriously wish I didn't have to be so far away from everyone I love back at home. Alas there are bigger battles that can only be conquered whilst I am here. 

Nothing beats real sit-down dinners and catching up during coffee dates. Because of my current set-up with friends,  I owe much to modern day technology for keeping me connected across the miles. 

Love in the Time of Technology

I thank God and human-kind for opening all possible portals of communication. Like what I had with Mr. P before, my relationships are so widespread-- it goes cross country! I don't really subscribe to the term LDR (long distance relationships) because I believe that relationships need not be labeled differently despite the distance. Wherever that person may be, how long the time has elapsed since you've seen each other-- what is important is that you strengthen that relationship.

In order to cope with geographic separation, I've been relying on social networks to bridge the gap. Facebook has become a good avenue to easily update friends and family with a snap and a click. My dad, who is currently based in L.A., makes it a point to post his adventures online and pops me a message on Viber almost everyday. Gone are the days when you have to worry about expensive overseas call charges because the internet makes texting and calling readily affordable and available. Those days, people used to scrimp their Php25 per 160 characters to say everything they want to. Now it's replaced with the ease of sending short messages with emoticons pa (which I love!) for free! Good thing my dad never gets tired of receiving a flood of colorful messages from me like "Hello dada! Eating burger! " or "Hi dada! I'm sick again. Colds and fever. Huhu " 

I do the same with my friends--even those who are just in the country. What's amusing is that my friends at home also use Whatsapp to update each other about funky finds and memorable moments. Those of us who are not in CDO get to see our friend's adorable baby Gabe grow up everyday. Technology makes milestones easier to share and capture. As kids we used to spend hours on the phone doing what we love best-- telebabad. The countless hours burning our earlobes with our phone sets are now replaced with hours of tapping our screens sending emoticons and photos as much as we can. 

My college girlies and I rely on Tumblr for our much-awaited "red tabs". On Tumblr, every new update is indicated by a tiny red flag with the number of new posts in your particular blog circle--hence our excitement over such. A different thrill overcomes me when I open my account and discover a multitude of red tabs from the girls! Accounts of travels, work woes, quest for love and satisfaction, nifty finds, and nerdy nothings make my life more colorful. Whenever the girls write pages of updates, I am living vicariously in every word that is written. We have healthy exchanges about anything and everything under the sun! Though these interactions are seasonal, it turns everything posted into a good read. 

Of course, how could I leave out my current addiction--Twitter! The ease of reading other people's brain farts has changed my relationship with many of my friends. Life is too marvelous to fit in 140 characters but dissecting them into these micro posts make it more interesting! I've made so many new friends through Twitter and it's entertaining and enlightening to stay on top of what's going on with the world and mapping out people's train of thoughts. In an instant, the burning desire for self expression-- from the most mundane musings to the deepest of emotions all blend in perfectly in the Twitterverse. This allows me to get connected to my gnork (geek+nerd+dork) friends from all over the globe! 

See? Photos and emoticons!

Ready to read today's red tabs from the circle!

Visting my best Whatsapp buddy in Beijing! L-R: Mr. P, Shani, Me, & Elma. 

The Circle of Global Trust: Dee (currently in UK), Yan (who loves Asian adventures lives in Davao), E (the globe trotter who just got back from Paris)  & IJ (who promised to bring us maple syrup and hockey pucks from Canada). 

The best thing about hooking up with friends online is that no matter where we are in the globe-- whatever hour it is, there's always an opportunity to interact. I'm a firm believer of exhausting all resources so there is absolutely no reason to say that you're too busy or too far away to make things happen. 

We don't find time, we make it.  

It's right about time for me to reply to my circle tabs. IJ's coming home in a few months and we're syncing our schedules for her homecoming. You see, our social networks are also active avenues where we plan our next reunions! I'm definitely excited!

Don't you just love the friends and the internet? :)

Dressed up. Dressed down.

Discovering Downtown

The good thing about doing field work for my job is the chance to explore little nooks and crannies that you don't usually frequent. As a Marketing Officer for an international school, it is my duty to hop from one school to the other to make sure that word gets out about the school's offerings. The past year has been a wild roller coaster ride of career talks and school fairs, motivational talks, lunches in moving vehicles, and entertaining a mixture of flattering and nerve-wracking questions from students.

Yesterday, after a long time, my team and I set out to Pateros Catholic School to conduct room-to-room talks for their senior students. It was an entire day of non-stop marketing spiels, stand up comedy, and a battle with dizzy spells. Though I feel much better than the other day, the flu is still lingering in my system-- teasing me from time to time with aches and pains. 

From 8 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. I spoke to about 350 students from 7 out of 9 sections (I had to sit 2 sections out because I was getting chills already). It was insane! 

Oh the things we do for....

Never mind. Haha.

Going back to my story, after waving goodbye to giddy gay high schoolers jumping up and down screaming my name: "Bye Ate Czarrrr!" we rewarded ourselves with an afternoon snack right in the heart of Comembo, Makati City! haha.

Say hello to Mac's neighborhood goto/mami place:

Mamihan sa Comembo!

This place is known for its delectable servings of lugaw. Didn't get to try it because of my no-rice diet.

So I ordered a serving of my favorite tokwa't baboy instead! (Php 18.00)

 

Teammate Aya and I ordered the same thing. We also shared a bowl of piping hot mami!

Team Time-Out! L-R: Mac, Aya, and Ms. Cielo

 Who says yummy can't be affordable? These are the moments that I enjoy the most about getting out of the office! Despite what many think about karinderyas or local food joints, this place was clean and they're very spiffy about cleaning up after each customer. The merienda crowd was a diverse mix of nearby residents and motorists. We kept on poking fun at our teammate Aya who was all dolled up. It felt like she was out-of-place in such a rugged scenario. Haha. But I'm happy that my teammates are all cowgirls and cowboys, they're up for any challenge-- especially when it comes to food.

Upscale Ups!

 

Ironically, I had dinner at Resorts World that night with Mr. P and his college lab mates from U.P. We usually get together with these guys when there's an important occasion to celebrate (like a birthday or an engagement). That night we met up to get Liz & brooks' invites for their March wedding. I was so thrilled to receive personalized "mail"!  

Taken via Instagram

You know I'm a sucker for DIY projects and weddings so I couldn't help but ask Liz how she put together her beautiful artsyfartsy invite! Since they're both hands on with their wedding, she personally did the layout for the envelope with Adobe Photoshop-- incorporating the details of a snail-mailed letter! Each envelope has a "Tagaytay" postage stamp on it (where the wedding will be held). And another "stamp" for the details of the wedding. Each envelope also has a special print inside which Liz also handcrafted. The wedding invites with an elegant script of the couples' names was sourced from Cebu. It even came with the directions to their wedding venue. 

Anything handmade is a true work of love and it always warms my heart when someone gives me something that's handcrafted. I'm really excited for their garden wedding! Which reminds me-- I badly need to look for something to wear! It's time to work on pegs with my best bud/budding stylist ARDC! haha.

We ate dinner at Parmigiana Italian Kitchen and exchanged travel stories, wedding planning updates (both Liz and their other friend's), and work woes. Haha.

I wasn't able to snap much photos from the dinner because everyone was famished and I was still feeling a bit congested. But I did manage to snap a photo of my favorite dish of the night!

Shrimps, arugula, and Parmesan pizza! 

The boys then hit the casino for some beginner's luck after dinner. I'm not a huge fan of gambling but being there was quite an experience. I didn't really fancy much about the game but Mr. P happily took home Php 600.00 in winnings after 30 minutes of playing--without even shelling out cash from his own pocket. We even got free parking thanks to his friends' RW points! Haha.

It was quite an action-packed day of highs and lows!

Shoo Flu!

Massage has always been a staple in our family. My parents have amazing hands. They have healing hands that soothe anything from the simplest aches to the most griping of pains. Getting massages from them always left us feeling better-- even when we weren't sick. It has been a ritual for us ever since we were kids to "line up" for my Dad's massage at night. Even if my dad was really tired and sleepy, he still made it a point to accommodate our lambing requests for massages.

Growing up, it became the other way around. My brothers and sister discovered their gift of touch when they were in their teenage years. Like my parents, they had the "power" to make people feel better with a few presses and rubs. Unfortunately, I'm the only one who wasn't able to inherit that gift for giving good massages.

My mom always request us siblings to give her a back rub after a day of battling the corporate world. She'd always try to agitate me so I can get the pressure points right. She'd tell me in a spa-like, airy voice, "You're angry at the world Czarinna. Let out your frustrations. Be angry that you're fat, that your friends are out and you're at home"... It never fails to motivate me. Haha. I think the only time I do an excellent job at giving massages was when I was upset.

Because of my attachment to massages, I always make it a point to get a massage whenever I don't feel well. My sister S (though she can do a mean massage) insisted that we head out to get one when I was sick the other day.

I'm glad that we headed out that night despite my on-and-off bout with the chills. Since our suki spa closed down recently, we were forced to look for a new place. So we decided to try out the Nuat Thai branch in Maysilo Circle! 

It was our first time at the Maysilo branch and we were absolutely thrilled with the service that we got. It was a short trike ride away from my house. Upon entering the quaint spa space on the 2nd level of the building, we were greeted by the soothing smell of peppermint and lavender. We've tried Nuat Thai in CDO and were very happy with our session so we were really looking forward to having the same experience in Manila. 

We chit-chatted with the attendants and discovered that all of them were Cebuano! This made it feel closer to home since we were free to converse in Bisaya. They also gave us an insider tip that all of the staff working for Nuat Thai franchises were all true-blue bisayas because the owner himself was a Cebuano. Whee!

What I love about Nuat Thai is their signature pebble-covered pathways and wooden accents. S and I were ushered to the foot soak station where we enjoyed a pre-massage foot scrub. Lovely! My clogged nose and aching body were so excited for the Swedish massage with peppermint oil.

It was a good hour and a half of rest, relaxation, and healing! I dozed off immediately after my therapist began working on my thighs! The massage really took away all my back aches and I'm so grateful to my therapist for being thorough enough to knead out the pain on my right shoulder blade. (I think I even drooled and/or snored at one point or another.haha)

The complimentary hot tea at spas always makes me happy. Nothing beats a warm cup after a relaxing rub down!

We left the spa with smiles and sighs of relaxation. It was one of the best massages that I ever had! I really felt like my flu went away in an instant. 

S and I then walked to the nearest Shakey's and ordered ourselves some comfort food-- pizza and pasta! After filling up our bellies we headed home for more sisterly bonding and then dozed off like two happy pigs.

*sigh* I still daydream about that massage. Definitely can't wait 'til my next visit!

----

Nuat Thai Foot & Body Massage, Mandaluyong

Maysilo Circle, Mandaluyong City

Number (02) 489 6815

Down with the Sickness

I woke up feeling horrible today. I think I caught another bug-- specifically, my sister's! She had a bad case of cough & colds the past week and I think the little critters just had to find a new home-- in my system! Gah. It must've been because of too much sister hugging or successive nights of staying up late (watched the SUPER AWESOME Sherlock series last night). The common cold is always common to me since I have allergic rhinitis and I get allergy attacks almost anywhere. 

What I hate about being sick is losing my appetite. This of course comes to an advantage this time since I'm really keen on getting fit for the big move. However, it really didn't help with day 1 of my oatmeal lunch diet. 

Sadly, I'm feeling all sorts of things-- my back hurts, my head hurts, my nose feels stuffy, I'm annoyed at the office for cost-cutting (no aircon during lunch break), and seriously sleepy. Dear God, help me from going narcoleptic in the office!!!

I really can't wait to get home and curl up in bed. I'm looking forward to melt away in my dimly lit room and be consumed by my fluffy pillows. What's even more exciting is that I get to guzzle on calamansi juice (my favorite drink in the whole world!) in ridiculous quantities! Nothing beats freshly squeezed vitamin c to flush out the cooties.

Oh I cannot wait for this day to end! 

Excuse me while I slip into an open-eyed coma in the office while I wait for 5 P.M. to come. 

Taken with Instagram

Sink or Swim

The Story Board

Do you know that part of any story when the protagonist feels like things are going smoothly and then something tragic happens that turns things around? For example: After a huge struggle with being plucked out of his home and away from his dad, Nemo triumphantly gets out of the fish tank--- but still finds himself lost in the deep blue sea.

Taking a few steps back to our high school literature classes, let us recall the basic elements of a story:

1) Setting- The place in which a story is set.
2) The Character(s) - The individual/s that are part of the story.
3.) Plot- The sequence of events that happen in a story.

As the story unfolds the plot develops and gets more colorful because of:

•  Conflict- The main problem in the story. This could be a quarrel or battle. It could be some inner struggle within the person himself. Or even barriers that have to be overcome in order to obtain some goal.

Just so we're on the same page, today's focus will be on THIS story. Our setting is here and now. Character(s) of the story would include me and everyone who is responsible for helping/keeping me from achieving the plot of this story which is-- to make my own Happiness Project successful. Now we move deeper into the plot and I shall introduce to you my Conflict. That's exactly where my story is. That's exactly where Nemo was-- facing ANOTHER struggle after overcoming his previous one. 

SINKing Slowly

It began with a leak in our sink the other day. (Yes, this is literally about the sink)I was on my way to work on a Saturday and Mr. P was scheduled to have our sink checked by the plumber. My sister and I have been so busy the past weeks, we failed to have the leaked fixed right away. About to head to the shower, I noticed that a colony of ants were invading my counter! Oh the horror! There were so many of them, I had goose bumps all over trying to squirt them away with insect repellent. In the middle of the commotion, Mr. P arrived and saw the mess: a puddle of brownish sink water on my floor and a swarm of ants on my counter. In a flash he picked up a rag and mopped up the chaos. We had a spat while he was at it-- arguing about the upkeep of fixtures in our house and my cleaning schedules, etc.

I mentioned previously that Mr. P and I are like fire and ice at times-- one being the extreme opposite of the other. We bicker about our different ideologies and methods as much as we praise and thank each other for unconditional love. It was then that Pandora's box was opened and all hell broke loose. I was upset, seriously upset that I caused him distress and inconvenienced him for asking him to help me with the sink. I felt like I was in high school again-- unable to control my temper and being bratty about my own mistakes. He had his own views about things and I had mine. I won't get into the details of what were said that day, but in a nutshell-- it was a domestic dispute.

In the "Happiness Project", Gretchen Rubin mentioned that one step to be happy is to pay attention to long overdue tasks. For me, it was cleaning my house. I spent the whole afternoon cleaning and clearing things in my house, eager to prove that I was capable of taking care of my own concerns and making sure that everything was done right. I spent 6 hours scrubbing, disinfecting, throwing out unnecessary articles, and sweating my ass off. I knew I was wrong to be so upset by such petty disputes, but cleaning seemed like the best release at that moment. For every nook and cranny that I reached, I felt like I was a step away from proving that I could do things on my own-- at my own time and pace. I felt like I could prove to myself that I owned that space and that I knew best how to address it. After all, it was MY home and it was my choice how to fix it. 

When I was done, my sister arrived and I just cried my eyes out in front of her. I told her what happened to me that day and I discovered that my only issue wasn't the sink-- there were so many things that I was upset about that just ballooned and burst at the same time my pipes gave up on me. I was scared about moving to a new place in search of a better future. I was worried about not being able to save enough for my trip and to keep our house. I was heartbroken that a family member is facing another difficulty. These are issues that have been swirling inside me-- and I haven't been able to properly acknowledge my being hurt and scared because I have been too busy pushing myself to be positive and trying to remain in a calm disposition-- as what is ideally the point of being happy.

My sister reminded me that being happy is not all about feeling good. It is also about feeling good, feeling bad, and feeling right. I love how my sister is able to keep my chin up. It's embarrassing how older I am in age, but I feel like my sister (who is years younger) is more mature in nature.  She has always been my guru. In that moment, she allowed me to feel. She allowed me to acknowledge my weakness and realize that all the negativity should be channeled into something positive. I was happy to hear it from her that she was proud that my outlook has changed drastically compared to my pessimistic state not-so-long-ago. She reminded me that God does not give challenges to people who cannot overcome it.

Yes, being sad or mad or frustrated is part of the process.

I felt like I was 10 lbs heavier after that talk. My eyes were as puffy as marshmallows and my nose was as red sa Rudolf's but that didn't matter. I'm just glad I had the chance to let it all out.

Mingling & Margaritas

That night, Mr. P and I kissed and made up. (Hohoho) We had a night out with my high school friends and it was so much fun. My friend S excitedly reported that she was starting on her own happiness project and she showed me a list of things she'd like to do before she got married this year. Like me, she has been dying to have a change of perspective. I even egged her to read my blog for an added push. I'm glad that she's well on her way to achieving what she has set out to do. It began with a drastic haircut and the perseverance to watch Katy Perry in concert! Haha.

That night we also got reunited with an old classmate who now spins in a hip haunt in Ortigas. He filled us in on details about his own trials and triumphs the past years here in the metro-- about finding his own means to survive and prove to his parents that he was capable of making it big on his own. He was a beacon of hope to me. His positivism and drive were so inspiring-- I got more excited about living my dreams and taking more risks. 

Because of them, I am remined I'm on the right track. Margarita nights have never been this enlightening.

The Adventure Continues

This weekend has definitely been a learning experience. Quoting my favorite Broadway musical Fantasticks, the character El Gallo sings "without the hurt, the heart is hollow".

The important lesson that I learned from all these is that when we fall, we just have to dust off the debris, and pick up where we left off.

The happiness project continues.

Skin & Soul Food

The other day while I was at the Assumption HS college fair, I was caught by surprise when an old lady (about late 60s) approached me in the middle of my haggardo versoza booth setup...

OL (old lady): "Ay! How nice naman your skin! What do you use for your face"

Me: *awkward smile* "Thank you ma'am! It's nothing really. I just use Celeteque."

OL: "Reeeeally? Everything? Like moisturizer?"

Me: "I use their facial wash and toner. Then Olay moisturizer lang"

OL: "So nice talaga your skin! Sige sige iha i'll go ahead muna okay?"

Me: "Okay ma'am. Thank you."

Anoraw??? Haha. That moment humaba talaga ng hair ko! From Assumption HS in San Lorenzo, umabot ata sa St. Mary's School in CDO (my high school alma matter). Grabehhhh. I swear, pinag-GM ko talaga sa friends ko both in high school and college!

That's how amazed I was by OL's comment. Me? Maganda ang skin? Kamown!


The past years I've looked really haggard-- both because of the nature of my work and lack of attention to skin issues. I'm not big on makeup. I only apply the basics-- powder, blush, and gloss. But on most days I feel better off not wearing any at all. My skin is really sensitive so it's not really make-up friendly. I have to be really picky when it comes to products I use on my face.


I think that ever since I started sticking to a basic beauty (chos) regimen, & my skin has been clearer and more noticeable. My friend J is one who always tells me that I look good and my skin looks better!

The secret to better skin is actually very easy. Most of the beauty blogs and magazines I read have told me three important things: CLEANSE. TONE. MOISTURIZE. That's really all there is to it!

I can't sleep at night without washing my face. Even when I was piss-drunk in college, I'd make it a point to get to the nearest sink and wash my face with soap & water. O diba?

There are three things I can't NOT before a day ends: 1) Take a bath (and of course wash my face in the process) 2) Brush my teeth, and 3) Drink water before going to bed

But really, clean skin makes me feel so much better!

As I intended this to be my first "beauty post" here are my no-so-secret facial weapons:

1) Celeteque Facial Wash. What I enjoy about this product is that it's really gentle on the skin. It's an effective facial cleanser that takes out all the dust and grime accumulated from a day in the dirty metro without drying your skin.  

2) Celeteque Alcohol-Free Toner. I'm fortunate enough to be the type who doesn't have big pimples-- but I always get a patch of those annoying buggers on my forehead and cheeks. Ever since I used this toner, the little show-stoppers have been to shy to make an appearance. This product really helps lift of the excess dirt and keep my face pimple-free!

3) Olay Active Hydrating Fluid - Original. This baby has been a staple in our family! My Mamita, mom, aunt, and both my sister & I use this. There's no moisturizer like it! Though it may be a bit creamier than other moisturizers, Olay leaves your skin supple and smooth-- surprisingly without leaving weight! It seeps right into your skin and makes your skin feel super fresh! Thanks to my Dad for keeping us stocked! 

4) Zen Zest Tea Tree Oil. Tea tree oil is known to be have natural antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial components. It is also used as an effective remedy for skin ailments such as infections, insect bites, spots, and burns, and even acne! I use apply a layer of tea tree oil on affected areas before going to sleep and so far, I'm really satisfied with how my pimples dry up in an instant! Unlike other pimple-fighting creams I've tried, this one does the trick better-- and the best part about it? It's organic! But word of caution, tea tree oil has a really sharp smell and leaves your skin with a bit of a stinging sensation when applied. Leave it on while you sleep and in the morning, your skin woes are remedied.

Aside of course from stuffing my face with fruits and vegetables &  keeping hydrated (I can consume LITERS of water a day!), the "glow" on my face can be attributed to the fact that I recently extinguished the stress bunnies harassing me-- leaving me with a less haggard look.

Ever since I started being more positive about things (yes napaka new age--but it's true though) I really felt a different confidence in me. I feel lighter, sunnier, and ready to take on any challenge! When you find a reason to be happy-- it radiates inside out. 

So aside from washing your face and sticking to the routine, try and smile more and think about what makes you happy each day!

 

Pink!

The color of the day seems to be PINK! When I went over to Mr. P's house this morning to hitch a ride, I saw him wearing PINK! Gah. We're not the couple-color kind of people so I was amused that we've reached that stage in the relationship where we actually dress alike (unintentionally!).

Heehee.

Not my usual color but I'm loving this skirt I got from H&M in SG

Not pink but the lighting was nice.

Car Pool Buddy Afro Ken!

Mr. P trying to pretend that he's not looking

Just to add more color, my bread-shaped sandwich bin of the day is even in on the fun! Than you Tita Cel for the scrumptious chocolate-banana sandwich!

This definitely makes breakfast more fun!

What's your color today?

Dinner for TWO!

After work last night, Mr. P and I went out for an anniversary dinner date. We went out for what else? Pizza! We're both big on pizza! Mr. P always says that he can eat pizza "all day, everyday, twice on Sundays!". I've always wanted to try Joey Pepperoni but never really had the time so we drove to JP in Pioneer (which is really near our place).

Photo from site.

The place wasn't packed that night so it was perfect for some quiet quality time! The place was really nice-- dimly lit and the seats were comfy. The first thing I noticed about the interiors was the big city scape mural on the wall. So artysyfartsy!

Taken with Dusty!

They even had paper lanters with a sticker of their logo in the middle. How nifty!

We ordered in no time! We were both so famished it didn't take us that long to decide on our menu for the evening: creamy mushroom soup, Cesar's salad, baked cheesy fries, and The Works pizza!

Before our orders were served, I took the chance to give Mr. P my cheesy love package. Yax! I wasn't able to take a photo of the package because I put it together in such a rush. haha. *facepalm* I can't believe that I wasn't able to do some fancyshmancy wrapping like I always do. I just threw everything in a long brown kraft paper button & string envelope and wrote a "WARNING: This contains cheesy stuff" note on the flap.

These always help save the day! I've used them for so many impromptu gifts. haha The package contained a pretty kraft paper card that I picked up from National Bookstore. I'm crazy over brown-paper packaging and kraft paper! It looks really classy and simple. I stamped the right inside flap with red stars using a self-inking star stamp that I bought in Fully Booked. The result? A really happy letter with lots of love! I also bought this nifty orange photo frame from National Bookstore and placed a photo of my very first trip with Mr.P! I know some of you are laughing at me for giving him something generic (do I hear a virtual snort somewhere?) but I seriously wanted him to have a photo of us-- para maiba naman. (Sorry no photo. Too embarassing. Haha.) Cheesiness aside, we wolfed down our dinner in no time! Wasn't able to take photos of some of our other orders beacuse we were too hungry! The mushroom soup was creamy and seasoned just right. For Php110, it was worth it! The salad wasn't that bad either. I enjoyed the bacon bits because they were really packed with flavor. The entire dish had the right proportions of flavor and texture. The baked cheesy fries were so good-- we didn't have time to stop and take photos. The baked fries came with a creamy meat-sauce. The Works was alright. I've had better pizzas but it was filling as it is-- bacon, pepperoni, black olives (my favorite), mushrooms, onions, and lotsa pepper. Mr. P said years back the pizza presentation was more impressive. I would've enjoyed it more perhaps if they used the wooden platters (as how Mr. P described it). After talks about how our day went and news from around the globe (haha). We went on our way and capped off dinner with some banana milk from the Korean mart across the street. Woohoo!

Oops! But before this post ends, I'd like to share a photo of me & Mr. P! It's our 2nd year of doing "tradition" Polaroid shots to celebrate our anniversary. This, i think, is the only photo we had together during that night. Hmph!

Our yearly tradition-- taking a cheesy polaroid of ourselves

Another photo to add to my growing Polaroid wall (which I will be showing you very soon), another year oflove and laughter. Oh I'm so in love with this cranky boy! :)

Awesome Two-some

I still feel butterflies in my stomach after reading through old blog entries and seeing old photos of/about/from Mr. P. It's our second year anniversary today and I am reminded that I'm so blessed!

Mr. P and I have an interesting relationship. He's a line and I'm a squiggle. We're both crazy but in different proportions. He can keep to himself most of the time, while I-- on the other hand, can draw so much attention to myself it's insane! He's a gaming geek and I'm an artsy fartsy freak. Haha. We're so different but we're so alike in many ways unknown to people. 

The Good Ole Laya Days

We were in the same college football org-- Laya FC. (yes, I used to play football. yes. when I "tried" to be sporty!) but we rarely spoke to each other then. He was a senior and I was in my sophomore year when I was an applicant. He was always "Kuya Jec" to me-- the lanky engineering dude with braces whose trivia for the sig sheet was that he loved M2M to death! I remember having him sign my sig sheet as an applicant and asked if it was true. He just gave me a smile and said "yes". I bit my tongue, trying not to cough a laugh in front of him as not to be so rude. Haha.

Throughout college, our relationship was purely civil. We'd just nod at each other in acknowledgement when we'd meet each other around campus. Smile at each other after football trainings at Sunken Garden. We had separate lives-- he had his own world and I had mine. 

One of my most vivid memories of him was when he brought his guitar to the tambayan one day. I was on my way to the field when I saw him and his then girlfriend spending "quality time". He was playing for her-- and she looked extremely kilig. I told my friend M, "Sana ako rin may harana2x level! Swerte naman ni Ate K". Then I went on my way, not knowing that in 6 years I'd be the luckier one.

I was always knew of him as a bystander-- having second hand information about the developments of his life. Listening to stories about him in passing. I heard of his heartbreaks through friends over a game of summer football. I found out about his stint with social dancing during a random dorm dinner with my good friend (his then dance tutor) E. I discovered that he went to work in Spain for some time through Friendster. 

Feeling sporty with the Laya girls (that's me on the far right).
Hello blog friend Ate Rac (2nd to the leftt)!

There's a story behind this photo. Oh Carmelle, we hated this moment! Haha. 

Mr. P (far right) during the Laya 80's-themed party

Rare moment: Me & Mr. P in the same photo in college!

Buzz!

Many years of adventures, heartaches, and graduations passed-- and I find myself getting a surprise that would change my life forever.

It was one of those boring nights online sometime in 2009. I went back to CDO after graduation. I was in a conference with my girlies while stalking people on Tumblr and Facebook when someone called "thejoketh" popped on  my screen. He said hello and introduced himself. It was "Kuya Jec" asking me how I was and that my friends told him I was the best person who could help him learn how to speak in Bisaya.

Random. 

So we did have tutorials. I taught him grammar and a lot of kabastusan. Haha. It was fun. I enjoyed being his teacher and he was a really inquisitive student. He even wrote down our lessons on a special notebook. In-between lessons we'd talk about work--we'd catch up about everything and anything that happened during that day. I talked about my students, he talked about the Cat Lady in his office. We complained about taxes together, and I even joked about us staging a fake marriage & adopting kids together just so our taxes would go down. Little did I know that one day we'd find ourselves talking about the real thing.

As time passed, I looked forward to our daily conversations online. One night when my mom was shooing me from the computer because it was late, I had to cut short our conversation and said "Text Text!" I really didn't think that was serious... but he texted. Fortunately we still had the same numbers from college. I still laugh at the thought that his name in my phone book was  "Laya. Kuya Jec".

Then the rest is history! haha.

I love prank jejetexting him!

Across the Miles

It was such a joy getting to know him. So many years have passed since we last saw each other. We got to know each other more through daily doses of random questions from the most bizaare (how many moles do you have?) to the most embarassing (have you ever pooped in class when you were a kid?). Those kept us entertained. As the months progressed we found ourselves excited over each other's messages and "Good Mornings". He'd wake me up at 6:00 AM everyday during weekdays so I wouldn't be late for class. We'd spend long hours on the phone and on some days I'd read him the best & worst essays my students wrote in the exam papers. We'd debate about PBB and exchange thoughts about foodie finds we chanced upon within the week. We'd also spend some time exchanging doodles on YM-- I then discovered that he's an amazing artist. My doodles don't stand a chance!

A phlegmy doodle he made of my favorite Power Puff girl Buttercup!

Mr. P's version of Fifi vs. Mine. 

Things were dreamy but the sad part was that we were islands apart! It was tough at first-- giving in to doubts about the distance (having been in numerous long distance relationships that failed) and succumbing to loneliness because we don't really know when we'd get to see each other. 

But this one's different. I love Mr. P because he always finds a way. 

We both found ways to close the gap and make each other feel loved despite the distance. We sent each other care packages whenever we could-- full of love and quirky notes on post its. I thank LBC for being a valuable part of our relationship! Haha. 

He made my Moleskine wish come true!

Mr. P's very practical when it comes to gifts. In 2009 he gave me a tooth brush
& a fun new toy that made him MY Mr. Polaroid.:)

When he became such a gym rat, I sent him a set of GMTs (Good Morning Towels)
& dared him to use it at the GYM. Guess what? He did!

Something for his HK trip.

He also started writing again on Tumblr! I would read his adventures and his declarations of love (asus) through his posts-- and I would do the same. We agreed to ALWAYS find ways to stay connected.

It was a while before it became official because things felt too good to be true. I had my own frustrations about not being able to be there for him all the time-- the downfall of my previous relationship. I didn't know when I was going back to Manila and I knew he wouldn't consider moving elsewhere. But as I said, Mr. P always finds a way.

When we made it official, he flew out to meet me and my family. Aside from photos and video conferencing, it would be the first time in YEARSSSSS that we'd be seeing each other. I felt like I was a mail order bride! Haha. I felt like Mr. P was the foreigner visiting our little city to come meet my family and ask for their permission to take me with him to the city. Shet! Haha. Anobezzz. 

He cringed when he saw me holding this card at the airport. Haha.

He was a brave soldier. It was his first time to fly all the way to Mindanao. He gamely had cake and beer with my high school friends, impressed my Mamita by conversing with her in Spanish, wowed my mom and cousins with the goodies he brought, drank some more with my uncles, gamely answered their interrogations, and even drank Soup # 5 with them! Ha-ha.

The first few months of the relationship was all about planning trips, making countdowns (his countdowns were more discreet) to seeing each other, taking note of things to do with each other normal things to do during the next trip (our lists included "holding hands while crossing the street", "having a date at a fast food chain", or "watch movie together). We only saw each other for such short times during those trips that it was crazy to cram in all the normal things that couples would do.

The Countdown Calendar!

But things changed for us when one of our goals-- which was to BRING CZARINNA BACK TO MANILA finally became a reality in early 2010. I moved back to the metro and became neighbors! Hooray! Ever since then, everyday has been such an amazing adventure. 

There were so many things I couldn't do when we were apart-- and now there are things that I don't do anymore but I'm happy that they're that way.

I don't have to wear a headset if I want to talk to him for a long time.

I don't have to wonder how it would feel like to hug him after a long day at work.

I don't have to imagine how great it would be to have food trips and have cook offs with him.

I don't have to check his Tumblr just to see his smile.

I don't have to wait for 30 or more days before I get to see him.

Our countdowns to see each other may be over.... but the ultimate countdown has begun. (and soon you will find out what that is) 

I'm a very luck girl. 

Happy anniversary my wuffle! :)